Horizontal memory devices with vertical gates

ABSTRACT

Structures and methods for memory devices are provided which operate with lower control gate voltages than conventional floating gate transistors, and which do not increase the costs or complexity of the device fabrication process. The novel memory cell includes a source region and a drain region separated by a channel region in a horizontal substrate. A first vertical gate is separated from a first portion of the channel region by a first oxide thickness. A second vertical gate is separated from a second portion of the channel region by a second oxide thickness. The total capacitance of these memory devices is about the same as that for comparable source and drain spacings. However, the floating gate capacitance (CFG) is much smaller than the control gate capacitance (CCG) such that the majority of any voltage applied to the control gate will appear across the floating gate thin tunnel oxide.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.09/584,566, filed May 31, 2000 which is incorporated herein byreference.

This application is related to the following co-pending, commonlyassigned U.S. patent applications: U.S. application Ser. No. 09/583,584,filed May 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,420,902 (attorney docket no.303.683US1) and U.S. application Ser. No. 09/584,564, filed May 31,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,219,299 (attorney docket no. 303.692US1) eachof which disclosure is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to integrated circuits and inparticular to horizontal memory devices with vertical gates.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One difficulty with EEPROM, EAPROM, and flash memory devices is theadverse capacitance ratio between the control gate and the floatinggate. That is, the capacitance between the control gate to floating gate(CCG) is about the same as the floating gate to substrate capacitance(CFG). FIG. 1A is an illustration of a horizontal EEPROM, EAPROM, orflash memory device formed according to the teachings of the prior art.As shown in FIG. 1A, conventional horizontal floating gate transistorstructures include a source region 110 and a drain region 112 separatedby a channel region 106 in a horizontal substrate 100. A floating gate104 is separated by a thin tunnel gate oxide 105 shown with a thickness(t1). A control gate 102 is separated from the floating gate 104 by anintergate dielectric 103 shown with a thickness (t2). Such conventionaldevices must by necessity have a control gate 102 and a floating gate104 which are about the same size in width.

FIG. 1B is an illustration of a vertical EEPROM, EAPROM, or flash memorydevice formed according to the disclosure in a co-pending, commonlyassigned application by W. Noble and L. Forbes, entitled “Fieldprogrammable logic array with vertical transistors,” Ser. No.09/032,617, filed Feb. 27, 1998. FIG. 1B illustrates that verticalfloating gate transistor structures have a stacked source region 110 anddrain region 112 separated by a vertical channel region 106. Thevertical floating gate transistor shown in FIG. 1B further includes avertical floating gate 104 separated by a thin tunnel gate oxide 105from the channel region 106. A vertical control gate 102 is separatedfrom the floating gate 104 by an intergate dielectric 103. As shown inFIG. 1B, the vertical control gate 102 and the vertical floating gate104 are likewise about the same size in width relative to the channelregion 106.

Conventionally, the insulator, or intergate dielectric, 103 between thecontrol gate 102 and the floating gate 104 is thicker (t2) than the gateoxide 105 (t1) to avoid tunnel current between the gates. The insulator,or intergate dielectric, 103 is also generally made of a higherdielectric constant insulator 103, such as silicon nitride or siliconoxynitride. This greater insulator thickness (t2) tends to reducecapacitance. The higher dielectric constant insulator 103, on the otherhand, increases capacitance. As shown in FIG. 1C, the net result is thatthe capacitance between the control gate and the floating gate (CCG) isabout the same as the gate capacitance of the thinner gate tunnelingoxide 105 between the floating gate and the substrate (CFG). Thisundesirably results in large control gate voltages being required fortunneling, since the floating gate potential will be only about one halfthat applied to the control gate.

As design rules and feature size (F) in floating gate transistorscontinue to shrink, the available chip surface space in which tofabricate the floating gate also is reduced. In order to achieve ahigher capacitance between the control gate and floating gate (CCG) somedevices have used even higher dielectric constant insulators between thecontrol gate and floating gate. Unfortunately, using such higherdielectric constant insulators involves added costs and complexity tothe fabrication process.

Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide memory devices whichcan operate with lower control gate voltages and which do not increasethe costs or complexity of the fabrication process. Further such devicesshould desirably be able to scale with shrinking design rules andfeature sizes in order to provide even higher density integratedcircuits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above mentioned problems with memory devices and other problems areaddressed by the present invention and will be understood by reading andstudying the following specification. Structures and methods for memorydevices are provided which can operate with lower applied control gatevoltages than conventional floating gate transistor memory devices, andwhich do not increase the costs or complexity of the device fabricationprocess. These systems and methods are fully scalable with shrinkingdesign rules and feature sizes in order to provide even higher densityintegrated circuits. The total capacitance of these memory devices isabout the same as that for the prior art of comparable source and drainspacings. However, according to the teachings of the present invention,the floating gate capacitance is much smaller than the control gatecapacitance such that the majority of any voltage applied to the controlgate will appear across the floating gate thin tunnel oxide. Thus, thedevices of the present invention can be programmed by tunneling ofelectrons to and from the silicon substrate at lower control gatevoltages than is possible in the prior art.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a novel memory cell isprovided. The memory cell includes a source region and a drain regionseparated by a channel region in a horizontal substrate. A firstvertical gate is separated from a first portion of the channel region bya first oxide thickness. A second vertical gate is separated from asecond portion of the channel region by a second oxide thickness.According to one embodiment the memory cell includes a flash memorycell. In another embodiment, the memory cell includes an electronicallyerasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell. In anotherembodiment, the memory cell includes an electronically alterable andprogrammable read only memory (EAPROM) cell. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the first vertical gate and the second vertical gatehave a horizontal width of approximately 100 nanometers (nm). Also, inone embodiment the first oxide thickness is approximately 60 Angstroms(Å) and the second oxide thickness is approximately 100 Angstroms (Å).

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a method forforming a novel memory cell. The method includes forming a source regionand a drain region separated by a channel region in a horizontalsubstrate. The method includes forming a first vertical gate above afirst portion of the channel region and separated from the channelregion by a first oxide thickness. The method further includes forming asecond vertical gate above a second portion of the channel region andseparated from the channel region by a second oxide thickness. Formingthe second vertical gate includes forming the second vertical gateparallel to and opposing the first vertical gate.

These and other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and features of thepresent invention will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art byreference to the following description of the invention and referenceddrawings or by practice of the invention. The aspects, advantages, andfeatures of the invention are realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities, procedures, and combinations particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an illustration of a horizontal EEPROM, EAPROM, or flashmemory device formed according to the teachings of the prior art.

FIG. 1B is an illustration of a vertical EEPROM, EAPROM, or flash memorydevice formed according to the teachings of the existing art.

FIG. 1C is a schematic diagram illustrating the generally equivalentcapacitances of the control gate (CCG) and the floating gate (CFG)according to the existing art.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an embodiment for a novel memory cell,transistor, or floating gate transistor formed according to theteachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating the respective capacitancesbetween the between respective components of the novel memory cell shownin FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a simplified schematic diagram representing the samecapacitance relationship shown in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of another, asymmetrical embodiment for anovel memory cell, transistor, or floating gate transistor formedaccording to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating the respective capacitancesbetween the between respective components of the novel memory cell shownin FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a simplified schematic diagram representing the samecapacitance relationship shown in FIG. 3B.

FIGS. 4A-4I illustrate embodiments of the methods for forming the novelmemory cell, transistor or floating gate transistor according to theteachings of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A-5E are block diagrams illustrating embodiments of the methodsfor operating the novel memory cells of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing illustrating one circuit diagramembodiment and application for the novel memory cells of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronicsystem including a novel memory cell formed according to the teachingsof the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a memory array including a novelmemory cell formed according to the teachings of the present invention,as can be included in a memory device, e.g. on a memory chip/die.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in whichis shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describesubstantially similar components throughout the several views. Theseembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilizedand structural, logical, and electrical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. The terms wafer andsubstrate used in the following description include any structure havingan exposed surface with which to form the integrated circuit (IC)structure of the invention. The term substrate is understood to includesemiconductor wafers. The terms wafer and substrate used in thefollowing description include any base semiconductor structure. Both areto be understood as including bulk silicon material, silicon-on-sapphire(SOS) technology, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology, thin filmtransistor (TFT) technology, doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxiallayers of silicon supported by a base semiconductor structure, as wellas other semiconductor structures well known to one skilled in the art.Furthermore, when reference is made to a wafer or substrate in thefollowing description, previous process steps may have been utilized toform regions/junctions in the base semiconductor structure and layerformed above, and the terms wafer or substrate include the underlyinglayers containing such regions/junctions and layers that may have beenformed above. The term conductor is understood to includesemiconductors, and the term insulator is defined to include anymaterial that is less electrically conductive than the materialsreferred to as conductors. The following detailed description is not tobe taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention isdefined only by the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

FIG. 2A is a block diagram of an embodiment for a novel memory cell,transistor, or floating gate transistor 201 formed according to theteachings of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2A, the memory cell201 includes a source region 210 and a drain region 212 separated by achannel region 206 in a horizontal substrate 200. According to theteachings of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the memory cell 201includes a first vertical gate 202 located above a first portion, orfirst region, 207-1, of the channel region 206. In one embodiment, thefirst vertical gate 202 includes or serves as a floating gate 202 forthe memory cell 201. In an alternative embodiment, the first verticalgate 202 includes or serves as a control gate 202 for memory cell 201.The first vertical gate is separated from the channel region 206 by afirst thickness insulator material, or first oxide thickness (t1). Asecond vertical gate 204A is located above a second portion, or secondregion, 207-2 of the channel region 206. The second vertical gate 204Ais separated from the channel region 206 by a second thickness insulatormaterial, or second oxide thickness (t2). The memory cell 201 embodimentshown in FIG. 2A further includes a third vertical gate 204C locatedabove a third portion, or third region, 207-3 of the channel region 206.The third vertical gate is separated from the channel region 206 by thesecond thickness insulator material, or second oxide thickness (t2). Inone embodiment of the present invention, the first oxide thickness (t1)is approximately 60 Angstroms (Å) and the second oxide thickness (t2) isapproximately 100 Angstroms (Å). According to the teachings of thepresent invention, the first thickness insulator material (t1) and thesecond thickness insulator material (t2) are formed of silicon dioxide(SiO₂).

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2A, the second and the third verticalgates, 204A and 204C respectively, are parallel to and on opposing sidesof the first vertical gate 202 forming a symmetrical structure. Thememory cell 201 embodiment of FIG. 2A further includes a horizontal gatemember 204B which couples the second 204A and the third 204C verticalgates. The horizontal gate member 204B is located above the firstvertical gate 202 and separated therefrom by an intergate dielectric203. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the second and the thirdportion, 207-2 and 207-3 respectively, of the channel region 206 areadjacent to the source region 210 and the drain region 212 respectively.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first verticalgate 202, the second vertical gate 204A, the horizontal gate member204B, and the third vertical gate 204C include polysilicon gates whichare separated from one another by the intergate dielectric 203.According to the teachings of the present invention, the intergatedielectric includes an intergate dielectric formed from silicon dioxide(SiO₂). In one embodiment, the intergate dielectric 203 between thefirst vertical gate 202, the second vertical gate 204A, the horizontalgate member 204B, and the third vertical gate 204C has a thicknessapproximately equal to the first oxide thickness (t1), or firstthickness insulator material. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the first vertical gate 202, the second vertical gate 204A,and the third vertical gate 204C each have a horizontal width ofapproximately 100 nanometers (nm).

As described above, in one embodiment, the first vertical gate 202 inmemory cell 201 serves as a floating gate 202. In this embodiment, thesecond vertical gate 204A, the horizontal gate member 204B, and thethird vertical gate 204C serve as control gates. In an alternativeembodiment, the first vertical gate 202 in memory cell 201 serves as acontrol gate for the memory cell 201. In this embodiment, the secondvertical gate 204A, the horizontal gate member 204B, and the thirdvertical gate 204C serve as floating gates. In one embodiment, the firstvertical gate 202, the second vertical gate 204A, and the third verticalgate 204C have a vertical height, respectively, of approximately 500nanometers (nm).

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating the respective capacitancesbetween the between the first vertical gate 202, the second verticalgate 204A, the horizontal gate member 204B, and the third vertical gate204C, e.g. the control gate capacitance (CCG), as well as between thesevertical gates and the channel region 206, e.g. the floating gatecapacitance (CFG). FIG. 2C is a simplified schematic diagramrepresenting the same capacitance relationship. Thus, according to theteachings of the present invention, a greater percentage of a voltageapplied to the control gate appears between the floating gate and thechannel than between the control gate and the floating gate. This istrue, since as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the floating gate capacitance(CFG) of the present invention is much smaller than the control gatecapacitance (CCG).

According to the teachings of the present invention, the totalcapacitance of these memory devices is about the same as that for theprior art of comparable source and drain spacings. However, according tothe teachings of the present invention, the floating gate capacitance ismuch smaller than the control gate capacitance such that the majority ofany voltage applied to the control gate will appear across the floatinggate thin tunnel oxide. Thus, the devices of the present invention canbe programmed by tunneling of electrons to and from the siliconsubstrate at lower control gate voltages than is possible in the priorart.

FIG. 3A is a block diagram of another, asymmetrical embodiment for anovel memory cell, transistor, or floating gate transistor 301 formedaccording to the teachings of the present invention. As shown in FIG.3A, the memory cell 301 includes a source region 310 and a drain region312 separated by a channel region 306 in a horizontal substrate 300.According to the teachings of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A, thememory cell 301 includes a first vertical gate 302 located above a firstportion, or first region, 307-1, of the channel region 306. In oneembodiment, the first vertical gate 302 includes or serves as a verticalfloating gate 302 for the memory cell 301. In an alternative embodiment,the first vertical gate 302 includes or serves as a vertical controlgate 302 for memory cell 301. The first vertical gate is separated fromthe channel region 306 by a first thickness insulator material, or firstoxide thickness (t1). A second vertical gate 304A is located above asecond portion, or second region, 307-2 of the channel region 306. Thesecond vertical gate 304A is parallel to and opposes the first verticalgate 302 and is separated therefrom by an intergate dielectric 303. Thesecond vertical gate 304A is separated from the channel region 306 by asecond thickness insulator material, or second oxide thickness (t2).According to the teachings of the present invention, the first thicknessinsulator material (t1) and the second thickness insulator material (t2)are formed of silicon dioxide (SiO₂). In one embodiment, the firstthickness insulator material (t1) is approximately 60 Angstroms (Å), andwherein the second thickness insulator material (t2) is approximately100 Angstroms (Å).

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the secondvertical gate 304A includes a horizontal gate member 304B which couplesto the second vertical gate 304A and is separated from the firstvertical gate by the intergate dielectric 303. As shown in FIG. 3A, thehorizontal member 304B is located above a portion of the first verticalgate 302. According to the teachings of the present invention, theintergate dielectric includes an intergate dielectric formed fromsilicon dioxide (SiO₂). In one embodiment, the intergate dielectric 303between the first vertical gate 302, the second vertical gate 304A, andthe horizontal gate member 304B has a thickness approximately equal tothe first oxide thickness (t1), or first thickness insulator material.In one embodiment of the present invention, the first vertical gate 302and the second vertical gate 304A each have a horizontal width ofapproximately 100 nanometers (nm). In one embodiment, the first verticalgate 302 and the second vertical gate 304A respectively each have avertical height of approximately 500 nanometers (nm).

As shown in FIG. 3A, the first vertical gate 302 which is separated froma first portion 307-1 of the channel region is separated from a firstportion 307-1 of the channel region 306 which includes a portion of thechannel region 306 adjacent to the source region 310. The secondvertical gate 304A which is separated from a second portion 307-2 of thechannel region 306 is separated from a second portion 307-2 of thechannel region which includes a portion of the channel region 306adjacent to the drain region 312. As one of ordinary skill in the artwill understand upon reading this disclosure, the relationship of thestructure shown in FIG. 3A to the source and drain regions, 310 and 312respectively, can be reversed. As shown in FIG. 3A, in one embodiment ofthe present invention, source and/or drain region extension, such assource extension 311, are included in memory cell 301. As will beunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading thisdisclosure, the same can apply to the memory cell structure shown inFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating the respective capacitancesbetween the between the first vertical gate 302, the second verticalgate 304A, and the horizontal gate member 304B, e.g. the control gatecapacitance (CCG), as well as between these vertical gates and thechannel region 306, e.g. the floating gate capacitance (CFG). FIG. 3C isa simplified schematic diagram representing the same capacitancerelationship. Thus, according to the teachings of the present invention,a greater percentage of a voltage applied to the control gate appearsbetween the floating gate and the channel than between the control gateand the floating gate. This is true, since as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C,the floating gate capacitance (CFG) of the present invention is muchsmaller than the control gate capacitance (CCG). In other words, acapacitance between the vertical control gate 304A and the floating gate302 (CCG) is greater than a capacitance between the floating gate 302and the channel 306 (CFG).

Hence again, according to the teachings of the present invention, thetotal capacitance of these memory devices is about the same as that forthe prior art of comparable source and drain spacings. However,according to the teachings of the present invention, the floating gatecapacitance is much smaller than the control gate capacitance such thatthe majority of any voltage applied to the control gate will appearacross the floating gate thin tunnel oxide. Thus, the devices of thepresent invention can be programmed by tunneling of electrons to andfrom the silicon substrate at lower control gate voltages than ispossible in the prior art.

FIGS. 4A-4I are useful in illustrating the methods of forming a novelmemory cell, transistor or floating gate transistor according to theteachings of the present invention. According to the teachings of thepresent invention an edge-defined poly-silicon vertical gate is definedover the thin gate oxide in the active device area. This vertical gateis re-oxidized and another poly-silicon layer is deposited over thestructure, and anisotropically or directionally etched to define anotherpolysilicon vertical gate. These can be either symmetrical gatestructures as shown and described in connection with FIG. 2A orasymmetrical gate structures as shown and described in connection withFIG. 3A. The methods of the present invention result in a novel memorycell which has a larger capacitance between the control gate and thefloating gate, and only a smaller capacitance between the floating gateand the substrate. Thus, according to the teachings of the presentinvention, smaller control gate voltages than are required byconventional memory devices will result in large potential differencesbetween the floating gate and substrate. This is due to the fact thatthe capacitance ratio as illustrated in FIGS. 2B, 2C, 3B, and 3C is moreadvantageous in the novel memory cell embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4A illustrates the structure after the first sequence of processingsteps. In FIG. 4A, a thin gate oxide 401 is formed over an active devicearea 404, between a pair of field isolation oxides (FOXs) 420, in ahorizontal surface of a substrate 400. The thin gate oxide 401 is formedto a first oxide thickness (t1). In one embodiment, the thin gate oxide401 is formed to a thickness (t1) of approximately 60 Angstroms (Å). Oneof ordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading thisdisclosure the various suitable manners in which a thin gate oxide 401can be formed over the active device area 403. For example, in oneembodiment, the thin gate oxide can be formed by thermal oxidation, andthe FOXs can be formed using local oxidation of silicon (LOCOS) as thesame are known and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Aftergrowth of the thin gate oxide 401 by thermal oxidation, and the LOCOSisolation 420, a thick layer of sacrificial oxide 402 is deposited overthe surface of the thin gate oxide 401. In one embodiment, the thicklayer of sacrificial oxide 402 is deposited to a thickness ofapproximately 0.5 micrometers (μm) using a low-pressure chemical vapordeposition (LPCVD) technique. Using a photoresist mask, according tophotolithography techniques which are known and understood by one ofordinary skill in the art, this thick oxide 402 is etched. The desiredthin-oxide 401 can be regrown in the areas not covered by the remainingthick sacrificial oxide 402. According to one embodiment of the presentinvention, an inductively coupled plasma reactor (ICP) using CHF₃ may beemployed for this etching as the same is disclosed in an article by N.R. Rueger et al., entitled “Selective etching of SiO₂ overpolycrystalline silicon using CHF₃ in an inductively couples plasmareactor”, J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A, 17(5), p. 2492-2502, 1999.Alternatively, a magnetic neutral loop discharge plasma can be used toetch the thick oxide 402 as disclosed in an article by W. Chen et al.,entitled “Very uniform and high aspect ratio anisotropy SiO₂ etchingprocess in magnetic neutral loop discharge plasma”, ibid, p. 2546-2550.The latter is known to increase the selectivity of SiO₂ to photoresistand/or silicon. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4B illustrates the structure following the next sequence offabrication steps. In FIG. 4B, a polysilicon layer 406 is deposited to athickness of approximately 200 nanometers (nm). A conventional chemicalvapor deposition (CVD) reactor may be used to deposit polycrystallinesilicon films at substrate temperature in excess of 650° Celsius (C). Inan alternative embodiment, a plasma-enhanced CVD process (PECVD) can beemployed if a lower thermal budget is desired. In another alternativeembodiment, a microwave-excited plasma enhanced CVD of poly-siliconusing SiH₄/Xe at temperature as low as 300° C. can be performed todeposit the polysilicon layer 406 as disclosed by Shindo et al., ibid.p. 3134-3138. According to this process embodiment, the resulting grainsize of the polysilicon film was measured to be approximately 25 nm.Shindo et al. Claim that the low-energy (approximately 3 eV), high-flux,ion bombardment utilizing Xe ions on a growing film surface activatesthe film surface and successfully enhances the surfacereaction/migration of silicon, resulting in high quality film formationat low temperatures. In another alternative embodiment, the polysiliconlayer 406 can be formed at an even lower temperature, e.g. 150° C., withand without charged species in an electron cyclotron resonance (ECR)plasma-enhanced CVD reactor as disclosed in an article by R. Nozawa etal., entitled “Low temperature polycrystalline silicon film formationwith and without charged species in an electron cyclotron resonance SiH₄plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition”, ibid, p. 2542-2545. In thisarticle, R. Nozawa et al. describe that in using an atomic forcemicroscope ihey found that the films formed without charged species weresmoother than those films formed with charged species. According to theteachings of the present invention, it is important to keep thesmoothness of polysilicon layer 406. This will be evident from readingthe subsequently described process steps in which another polysiliconlayer will be fabricated later onto polysilicon layer 406 with a verythin insulation layer between them. The structure is now as appears inFIG. 4B.

FIG. 4C illustrates the structure following the next sequence ofprocessing steps. FIG. 4C shows a cross section of the resultingvertical gate structures, 407A and 407B, over the active device area 404after the polysilicon layer 406 has been anisotropically etched. Asshown in FIG. 4C, the polysilicon vertical gate structures, 407A and407B, remain only at the sidewalls of the thick sacrificial oxide 402.In one embodiment, the polysilicon layer 406 is anisotropically etchedsuch that the vertical gate structures, 407A and 407B remaining at thesidewalls of the thick sacrificial oxide 402 have a horizontal width(W1) of approximately 100 nanometers (nm). In one embodiment, thepolysilicon layer 406 can be anisotropically etched to form the verticalgate structures, 407A and 407B, through the use of a high-density plasmahelicon source for anisotropic etching of a dual-layer stack ofpoly-silicon on Si_(1-x) Ge_(x) as described in an article by Vallon etal., entitled “Poly-silicon-germanium gate patterning studies in a highdensity plasma helicon source”, J. Vac. Sci. technol., A, 15(4), p.1874-80, 1997. The same is incorporated herein by reference. In thisarticle, wafers were described as being etched in a low pressure, highdensity plasma helicon source using various gas mixtures of Cl₂, HBr,and O₂. Also, according to this article, process conditions wereoptimized to minimize the gate oxide 401 consumption. The structure isnow as shown in FIG. 4C.

FIG. 4D illustrates the structure after the next series of processsteps. In FIG. 4D, the thick sacrificial oxide 402 is removed. As one ofordinary skill in the art will understand upon reading this disclosurethe thick sacrificial oxide layer can be removed using any suitable,oxide selective etching technique. As shown in FIG. 4D, the remainingpolysilicon vertical gate structures, 407A and 407B, are oxidized toform insulator, intergate dielectric, oxide layer, or silicon dioxide(SiO₂) layer 409. In one embodiment, a conventional thermal oxidation ofsilicon may be utilized at a high temperature, e.g. greater than 900° C.In an alternative embodiment, for purposes of maintaining a low thermalbudget for advanced ULSI technology, a lower temperature process can beused. One such low temperature process includes the formation ofhigh-quality silicon dioxide films by electron cyclotron resonance (ECR)plasma oxidation at temperature as low as 400° C. as described in anarticle by Landheer, D. et al., entitled “Formation of high-qualitysilicon dioxide films by electron cyclotron resonance plasma oxidationand plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition”, Thin Solid Films, vol.293, no. 1-2, p. 52-62, 1997. The same is incorporated herein byreference. Another such low temperature process includes a lowtemperature oxidation method using a hollow cathode enhanced plasmaoxidation system as described in an article by Usami, K. et al.,entitled “Thin Si oxide films for MIS tunnel emitter by hollow cathodeenhanced plasma oxidation”, Thin Solid Films, vol. 281-282, no. 1-2, p.412-414, 1996. The same is incorporated herein by reference. Yet anotherlow temperature process includes a low temperature VUV enhanced growthof thin silicon dioxide films at low temperatures below 400° C. asdescribed in an article by Patel, P. et al., entitled “Low temperatureVUV enhanced growth of thin silicon dioxide films”, Applied SurfaceScience, vol. 46, p. 352-6, 1990. The same is incorporated herein byreference.

FIG. 4E shows the structure following the next series of steps. In FIG.4E, another, or second, polysilicon layer 411 is formed over the oxidelayer 409 to a thickness of approximately 100 nm. Forming the secondpolysilicon layer 411 over the oxide layer 409 can be performed usingany similar technique to those used in forming the first polysiliconlayer 406 as described in detail in connection with FIG. 4B. As shown inFIG. 4E, the second polysilicon layer 411 will be separated by a secondoxide thickness, or second insulator thickness (t2) from the activedevice region 404 which is slightly greater than the thin tunnel oxidethickness, e.g. first oxide thickness or first insulator thickness (t1)which separates the vertical gate structures 407A and 407B from thesubstrate 400. In one embodiment the second oxide thickness, or secondinsulator material thickness (t2) is approximately 100 Angstroms (Å)thick. The structure is now as appears in FIG. 4E.

FIG. 4F illustrates the structure after the next series of steps. InFIG. 4F, the structure is once again subjected to an anisotropic etch.The anisotropic etch includes the anisotropic etching process used foretching the first polysilicon layer 406 to form the vertical gatestructures 407A and 407B as described in more detail in connection withFIG. 4C. FIG. 4F shows one embodiment of the present invention in whichthe resulting structure is symmetrical, including two groups of threefree standing vertical polysilicon gates. The two groups of three freestanding vertical gates include the original vertical gate structures407A and 407B, and new vertical gate structures 413A and 413B parallelto and on opposing sides of each original vertical gate structures 407Aand 407B. This structure embodiment is now as appears in FIG. 4F.

In FIG. 4G, the process is continued to form horizontal polysilicon gatestructures above the original vertical gate structures 407A and 407B,and new vertical gate structures 413A and 413B on opposing sides of eachoriginal vertical gate structures 407A and 407B. In FIG. 4G, the newvertical gate structures 413A and 413B are connected by forming a thirdpolysilicon layer 415 over a top surface of the structure shown in FIG.4F. The third polysilicon layer 415 can be formed over the top surfaceof the structure shown in FIG. 4F using any similar technique to thoseused in forming the first polysilicon layer 406 as described in detailin connection with FIG. 4B. In one embodiment, according to theteachings of the present invention, the third polysilicon layer 415 isformed to a thickness of approximately 100 nm. In one embodiment,forming the third polysilicon layer 415 is followed by masking andetching techniques, as the same have been described above, in order toleave horizontal polysilicon gate structures 415 only above andconnecting the vertical gate structures 413A and 413B. The structure isnow as appears in FIG. 4G. FIG. 4G thus represent a symmetricalstructure embodiment of the present invention in which the vertical gatestructures 413A and 413B, which are parallel to and on opposing sides ofeach vertical gate structures 407A and 407B, are coupled by thehorizontal polysilicon gate structures 415 above the vertical gatestructures 407A and 407B. As shown in FIG. 4G, the vertical gatestructures 413A and 413B coupled by the horizontal polysilicon gatestructures 415 are isolated from vertical gate structures 407A and 407Bby insulator layer or oxide layer 409.

In one embodiment, illustrated by FIG. 4H, the structure of FIG. 4G canbe anisotropically etched using masking techniques known to one ofordinary skill in the art, as well as the anisotropic etching processesdescribed in connection with FIG. 4F, to produce asymmetrical verticalgate structures. These asymmetrical vertical gate structures willinclude the original vertical gate structures 407A and 407B, and oneremaining vertical gate structure, either 413A or 413B on one side orthe other of each original vertical gate structures 407A and 407B aswell as a horizontal gate structure 415 depending on the chosencondition of the anisotropic etch process. That is, the anisotropic etchcan be performed to leave horizontal gate structure 415 coupled to andabove either vertical gate structure 413A or 413B on one side or theother of each original vertical gate structures 407A and 407B. The sameis shown in FIG. 4H.

The next series of process steps can continue from either FIG. 4G or 4H.For purposes of illustration, FIG. 41 provides an illustration of theprocess steps continued from FIG. 4G. However, one of ordinary skill inthe art will understand that analogous process steps may be used tocontinue the fabrication process from the structure shown in FIG. 4H. InFIG. 4I, the structure from FIG. 4G is oxidized to form an oxide layerof approximately 50 nm. The oxidation process of the structure shown inFIG. 4G can be performed using any suitable technique as the same hasbeen describe above. An ion implantation is then performed to activatesource regions shown as 410A and 410B as well as drain region 412. InFIG. 41, the drain region 412 is illustrated as shared between verticalgate structure 407A and 407B.

One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that other source anddrain region configurations can be activated through various ionimplantation techniques. Additionally, in one embodiment, the sourceand/or drain regions can be fabricated with source and/or drainextensions, e.g. similar to source extensions shown in connection withFIG. 3A for facilitating tunneling, by using a masking step and anotherimplantation as the same is known and understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art of memory technology. Further conventional processsteps can then be used to contact the source, drain and control gateportions of the structure to complete the device of either FIG. 2A orFIG. 3A.

As described above, the structures can be completed such that verticalgates 407A and 407B serve as floating gates for the device structuresand vertical gates 413A and 413B serve as control gates. Alternatively,the structures can be completed such that vertical gates 407A and 407Bserve as a control gate for the device structures and vertical gates413A and 413B serve as floating gates.

As will be understood by reading this disclosure, the memory cells, orfloating gate transistors, of the present invention can be fabricatedsuch that the total capacitance of the device is about the same as thatof prior art horizontal or vertical floating gate transistor structures,e.g. FIGS. 1A and 1B, of comparable source/drain spacings. However, nowsince the floating gate capacitance (CFG) for the novel memory cells ofthe present invention is much smaller than the control gate capacitance(CCG) the majority of any voltage applied to the control gate willappear across the floating gate thin tunnel oxide 401. The floating gatecan then be programmed and erased by tunneling of electrons to and fromthe source of the transistor at relatively low voltages, or programmedby hot electron injection and erased by tunneling.

The operation of the novel memory cells of the present invention isillustrated in connection with FIG. 5A-5E. As explained above, the noveldevice of the present invention will function on tunneling of electronsto and from the source region of the device for both writing and eraseoperations, or operate in a tunnel-tunnel mode in conjunction with hotelectron injection.

FIG. 5A-5B illustrate the operation of the novel memory cell of FIG. 2Awhen the outer vertical gates serve as the control gate. In thisembodiment, the novel device 501 of the present invention will functionon tunneling of electrons to and from the channel region 506 of thedevice 501 for both writing and erase operations as the same are knownand understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. As shown in FIG. 5A,if no electrons are stored on the floating gate 507, then when apotential is applied to the control gate 513, the region of the channel511-1 beneath the floating gate 507 will actually have a slightly lowerthreshold voltage (Vt) than the other regions of the channel where theslightly thicker gate oxides (t2) separate the control gate 513 from thechannel 506, and the transistor will readily turn on, at lower thanconventional control gate voltages, when a read voltage is applied tothe control gate 513. In this respect the device functions in a manneranalogous to a flash memory cell. On the other hand, as shown in FIG.5B, if electrons are stored on the floating gate 507, this region of thechannel 511-1 beneath the floating gate 507 will have a high thresholdvoltage (Vt) and will not turn on and conduct when the same low voltageis applied to the control gate 513 to read the memory cell. There aresimply no electrons in this region of the channel 511-1 beneath thefloating gate 507 to conduct.

An alternative embodiment is to interchange the functions of the gates,the inner gate 507 becoming the control gate 507 and the outer gate 513becoming the floating gate 513 as shown in FIGS. 5C-5D. In thisembodiment, as shown in FIG. 5C, again with no electrons stored on thefloating gate 513, when a potential is applied to the control gate 507,the region of the channel beneath 511-1 the control gate 507 willactually have a slightly lower threshold voltage (Vt) than the otherregions of the channel where the slightly thicker gate oxides (t2)separate the floating gate 513 from the channel 506, and the transistorwill readily turn on at lower than conventional control gate 507voltages, when a read voltage is applied to the control gate 507. On theother hand, as shown in FIG. 5D, if electrons are stored on the floatinggate 513, the other regions of the channel where the slightly thickergate oxides (t2) separate the floating gate 513 from the channel 506will have a high threshold voltage (Vt) and will not turn on and conductwhen the same low voltage is applied to the control gate 507 to read thememory cell. There are simply no electrons in these other regions of thechannel, e.g. regions 511-2 and 511-3 where the slightly thicker gateoxides (t2) separate the floating gate 513 from the channel 506, toconduct.

As shown in FIG. 5E, in this later embodiment of FIGS. 5C-5D, the eraseoperation will be performed using source side 510 tunneling. The writeoperation, however, will use hot electron injection from the channelregion 506 at the drain region 512 to write electrons on to the floatinggate 513 as is commonly done in some flash memory cells. As one ofordinary skill will understand upon reading this disclosure, similaroperation modes can be employed based on the particular floating gate tocontrol gate configuration selection for the structure embodiment shownin FIG. 3A.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing illustrating one circuit diagramembodiment and application of the novel memory cell shown in FIG. 2A ina NOR type memory cell with two devices 601A and 601B. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 6, the two devices 601A and 601B share a common drain 612.As explained in detail above, according to the teachings of the presentinvention, vertical gates 602A and 602B are included. Further the twodevices 601A and 601B include vertical gates 604A and 604B. Thesevertical gates, 602A, 602B, 604A and 604B, are formed over horizontalbody regions, 608A and 608B respectively, in devices 601A and 601B. Thehorizontal body regions will conduct between source regions 606A and606B, respectively, and the common drain region 612 according to theconditions detailed and described above for the novel memory cells ofthe present invention. As one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand upon reading this disclosure, the NOR circuit embodiment ofFIG. 6 can similarly substitute the novel memory cell structure shown inFIG. 3A for the two devices 601A and 601B. The invention is not solimited. Further, as one of ordinary skill in the art will understandupon reading this disclosure, other circuit diagram embodiments cansimilarly be configured using the novel memory cells of the presentinvention. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand uponreading this disclosure, these devices can be used in a variety of flashmemory, EEPROM, and/or EAPROM arrays and applications. The invention isnot so limited.

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an embodiment of an electronicsystem 701 according to the teachings of the present invention. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 7, the system 701 includes a memory device 700which has an array of memory cells 702, address decoder 704, row accesscircuitry 706, column access circuitry 708, control circuitry 710, andinput/output circuit 712. Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the circuit 701includes a processor 714, or memory controller for memory accessing. Thememory device 700 receives control signals from the processor 714, suchas WE*, RAS* and CAS* signals over wiring or metallization lines. Thememory device 700 is used to store data which is accessed via I/O lines.It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that additionalcircuitry and control signals can be provided, and that the memorydevice 700 has been simplified to help focus on the invention. At leastone of the memory cells 702 has a memory cell formed according to theembodiments of the present invention.

It will be understood that the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 illustrates anembodiment for electronic system circuitry in which the novel memorycells of the present invention. The illustration of system 701, as shownin FIG. 7, is intended to provide a general understanding of oneapplication for the structure and circuitry of the present invention,and is not intended to serve as a complete description of all theelements and features of an electronic system using the novel memorycell structures. Further, the invention is equally applicable to anysize and type of memory device 701 using the novel memory cells of thepresent invention and is not intended to be limited to the describedabove. As one of ordinary skill in the art will understand, such anelectronic system can be fabricated in single-package processing units,or even on a single semiconductor chip, in order to reduce thecommunication time between the processor and the memory device.

Applications containing the novel memory cell of the present inventionas described in this disclosure include electronic systems for use inmemory modules, device drivers, power modules, communication modems,processor modules, and application-specific modules, and may includemultilayer, multichip modules. Such circuitry can further be asubcomponent of a variety of electronic systems, such as a clock, atelevision, a cell phone, a personal computer, an automobile, anindustrial control system, an aircraft, and others.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a memory array 800, according to theteachings of the present invention, as can be included in a memorydevice, e.g. on a memory chip/die. The memory array shown in FIG. 8includes a plurality of memory cells, 802-0, 802-1, . . . , 802-N. Theplurality of memory cells, 802-0, 802-1, . . . , 802-N, includes atleast one novel memory cell formed according to the teachings of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 8, the plurality of memory cells arecoupled to a plurality, or number of sense amplifiers 806-0, 806-1, . .. , 806-N via a number of bit lines, or digitlines, D0*, D0, D1*, D1, .. . , DN*. FIG. 8 is illustrative of the manner in which the novelmemory cell of the present invention can be used in a folded bit lineconfiguration, in substitution for a conventional folded bit line memoryarray. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand upon readingthis disclosure, that the novel memory cells of the present inventioncan further be used in an open bit line configuration or any otherdigitline twist scheme. The invention is not so limited.

The Figures presented and described in detail above are similarly usefulin describing the method embodiments of operation for novel memory cellof the present invention. That is one embodiment of the presentinvention includes applying a first potential across a thin tunnelingoxide between a vertical floating gate and a first portion of ahorizontal substrate in order to add or remove a charge from thefloating gate. As described in detail above, the horizontal substrateincludes a source region and a drain region separated by a horizontalchannel region. This method embodiment further includes reading thememory cell by applying a second potential to a vertical control gatelocated above a second portion of the horizontal substrate. The verticalcontrol gate is parallel to and opposing the vertical floating gate.

Another method embodiment of the present invention includes writing acharge from a horizontal substrate to a vertical floating gate byapplying a first potential to a vertical control gate. This methodembodiment includes erasing a charge from a vertical floating gate to asource region in a horizontal substrate by applying a second potentialto the vertical control gate. This method embodiment further includesreading the memory cell by applying a third potential to the verticalcontrol gate. Applying a first, second, and third potential to thevertical control gate includes applying a first, second, and thirdpotential to a vertical control gate which is parallel to and opposingthe vertical floating gate. In one embodiment for one of the novelmemory cell structures described above, the method of writing a chargefrom a horizontal substrate to a vertical floating gate by applying afirst potential to a vertical control gate includes tunneling electronsfrom a horizontal channel in the horizontal substrate to the verticalfloating gate using Fowler Nordheim tunneling. In another embodiment foranother of the novel memory cell structures described above, the methodof writing a charge from a horizontal substrate to a vertical floatinggate by applying a first potential to a vertical control gate includesusing a hot electron injection technique to tunnel electrons at a drainregion in the horizontal substrate to the vertical floating gate.Erasing a charge from a vertical floating gate to a source region in ahorizontal substrate by applying a second potential to the verticalcontrol gate includes tunneling electrons from the vertical floatinggate to the source region in a horizontal substrate using FowlerNordheim tunneling.

Another method embodiment of the present invention includes using avertical control gate to add and remove a charge to a vertical floatinggate. This method embodiment includes using the charge stored on thevertical floating gate to modulate a horizontal conduction channelbeneath the vertical floating gate. The method further includes sensinga conduction level through the horizontal channel to sense a state ofthe memory cell. According to the teachings of the present invention,the conduction level through the horizontal channel is modulated by acharge level in a vertical floating gate.

Another method embodiment of the present invention includes storing acharge in a vertical floating gate and using the charge stored in thevertical floating gate to control a threshold voltage level required tocreate conduction in a horizontal channel region beneath the verticalfloating gate.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the present invention provides structures and methods for memorydevices which operate with lower control gate voltages than conventionalflash, EEPROM, and/or EAPROM devices. The structures and methods of thepresent invention use thin silicon dioxide (SiO₂) layers as an insulatormaterial, in place of higher dielectric constant materials, forseparating the control gate and floating gate. Thus, the structures andmethods of the present invention do not increase the costs or complexityof the device fabrication process. These systems and methods are fullyscalable with shrinking design rules and feature sizes in order toprovide even higher density integrated circuits. The total capacitanceof these memory devices is about the same as that for the prior artfloating gate transistor devices of comparable source and drainspacings. However, according to the teachings of the present invention,the floating gate capacitance is much smaller than the control gatecapacitance such that the majority of any voltage applied to the controlgate will appear across the floating gate thin tunnel oxide allowing thedevice to operate with lower control gate voltages. In sum, the devicesof the present invention can be programmed by tunneling of electrons toand from the silicon substrate at lower control gate voltages than ispossible in the prior art.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose maybe substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the presentinvention. It is to be understood that the above description is intendedto be illustrative, and not restrictive. Combinations of the aboveembodiments, and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill inthe art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the inventionincludes any other applications in which the above structures andfabrication methods are used. The scope of the invention should bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

1. A memory device, comprising: a plurality of memory cells, whereineach memory cell includes: a horizontal substrate, wherein the substrateincludes a source region, a drain region, and a channel regionseparating the source and the drain region; a first vertical gateseparated from a first portion of the channel region by a first oxidethickness; and a second vertical gate separated from a second portion ofthe channel region by a second oxide thickness, wherein the secondvertical gate is parallel to and opposing the first vertical gate; andat least one sense amplifier, wherein the at least one sense amplifiercouples to the plurality of memory cells.
 2. The memory device of claim1, wherein each memory cell includes a flash memory cell.
 3. The memorydevice of claim 1, wherein each memory cell includes an electronicallyeraseable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM) cell.
 4. The memorydevice of claim 1, wherein the first vertical gate includes a floatinggate and the second vertical gate includes a control gate.
 5. The memorydevice of claim 1, wherein the first vertical gate includes a controlgate and the second vertical gate includes a floating gate.
 6. Thememory device of claim 1, wherein the first vertical gate and the secondvertical gate have a horizontal width of approximately 100 nanometers(nm).
 7. The memory device of claim 1, wherein the first oxide thicknessis approximately 60 Angstroms (Å), and wherein the second oxidethickness is approximately 100 Angstroms (Å).
 8. The memory device ofclaim 1, wherein the first vertical gate separated from a first portionof the channel region by a first oxide thickness includes a firstportion of the channel region which is adjacent to the source region. 9.The memory device of claim 1, wherein the second vertical gate separatedfrom a second portion of the channel region by a second oxide thicknessincludes a second portion of the channel region which is adjacent to thesource region.
 10. An electronic system, comprising: a processor; and amemory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory deviceincludes a plurality of memory cells coupled to at least one senseamplifier, and wherein each memory cell includes: a horizontalsubstrate, wherein the substrate includes a source region, a drainregion, and a channel region separating the source and the drain region;a first vertical gate separated from a first portion of the channelregion by a first oxide thickness; and a second vertical gate separatedfrom a second portion of the channel region by a second oxide thickness,wherein the second vertical gate is parallel to and opposing the firstvertical gate.
 11. The electronic system of claim 10, wherein eachmemory cell includes a flash memory cell.
 12. The electronic system ofclaim 11, wherein each memory cell further includes a third verticalgate separated from a third portion of the channel region by the secondoxide thickness, and wherein the second and the third vertical gates areparallel to and on opposing sides of the first vertical gate.
 13. Theelectronic system of claim 12, wherein the first vertical gate, thesecond vertical gate, and the third vertical gate include polysilicongates which are separated from one another by silicon dioxide (SiO₂).14. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the first vertical gateincludes a floating gate and the second vertical gate includes a controlgate.
 15. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the first verticalgate includes a control gate and the second vertical gate includes afloating gate.
 16. The electronic system of claim 11, wherein the firstvertical gate and the second vertical gate have a horizontal width ofapproximately 100 nanometers (nm).
 17. The electronic system of claim11, wherein the first oxide thickness is approximately equal to anintergate dielectric thickness which separates the first vertical gateand the second vertical gate.
 18. The electronic system of claim 11,wherein the second vertical gate separated from a second portion of thechannel region by a second oxide thickness includes a second portion ofthe channel region which is adjacent to the source region.
 19. Theelectronic system of claim 11, wherein the first vertical gate furtherincludes a horizontal member located above the second vertical gate. 20.The electronic system of claim 11, wherein a capacitance between thefirst vertical gate and the second vertical gate is greater than acapacitance between either the first vertical gate or the secondvertical gate and the channel.
 21. A method for operating a memory cell,comprising: applying a first potential across a thin tunneling oxidebetween a vertical floating gate and a first portion of a horizontalsubstrate, the horizontal substrate including a source region and adrain region separated by a horizontal channel region, in order to addor remove a charge from the floating gate; and reading the memory cellby applying a second potential to a vertical control gate located abovea second portion of the horizontal substrate, wherein the verticalcontrol gate is parallel to and opposing the vertical floating gate. 22.A method for operating a memory cell, comprising: writing a charge froma horizontal substrate to a vertical floating gate by applying a firstpotential to a vertical control gate; erasing a charge from a verticalfloating gate to a source region in a horizontal substrate by applying asecond potential to the vertical control gate; and reading the memorycell by applying a third potential to the vertical control gate.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, wherein applying a first, second, and thirdpotential to the vertical control gate includes applying a first,second, and third potential to a vertical control gate which is parallelto and opposing the vertical floating gate.
 24. The method of claim 22,wherein writing a charge from a horizontal substrate to a verticalfloating gate by applying a first potential to a vertical control gateincludes tunneling electrons from a horizontal channel in the horizontalsubstrate to the vertical floating gate using Fowler Nordheim tunneling.25. The method of claim 22, wherein writing a charge from a horizontalsubstrate to a vertical floating gate by applying a first potential to avertical control gate includes using a hot electron injection techniqueto tunnel electrons at a drain region in the horizontal substrate to thevertical floating gate.
 26. The method of claim 22, wherein erasing acharge from a vertical floating gate to a source region in a horizontalsubstrate by applying a second potential to the vertical control gateincludes tunneling electrons from the vertical floating gate to thesource region in a horizontal substrate using Fowler Nordheim tunneling.27. A method for operating a memory cell, comprising: using a verticalcontrol gate to add and remove a charge to a vertical floating gate; andusing the charge stored on the vertical floating gate to modulate ahorizontal conduction channel beneath the vertical floating gate. 28.The method of claim 67, wherein method further includes sensing aconduction level through the horizontal channel to sense a state of thememory cell, wherein the conduction level is modulated by a charge levelin a vertical floating gate.
 29. A method for operating a memory cell,comprising: storing a charge in a vertical floating gate; and using thecharge stored in the vertical floating gate to control a thresholdvoltage level to create conduction in a horizontal channel regionbeneath the vertical floating gate.
 30. A method to operate a memorycell, comprising: adding a charge to a vertical floating gate via avertical control gate; and modulating a horizontal conduction channelsituated beneath the vertical floating gate in response to the charge.31. The method of claim 30 further comprising, removing the charge fromthe vertical floating gate via the vertical control gate.
 32. The methodof claim 30 further comprising, controlling a threshold voltage level tocreate conduction in the horizontal conduction channel in response tothe charge.
 33. A method to operate a memory cell, comprising: accessinga vertical control gate to store a charge in a vertical floating gate;and controlling a threshold voltage level to create conduction in ahorizontal channel, wherein the channel is beneath the vertical floatinggate.
 34. The method of claim 33 further comprising, sensing aconduction level within the horizontal channel to resolve a state of thememory cell.
 35. The method of claim 34 further comprising, modulatingthe conduction level by the charge.